By Abasi Ita
No fewer than 20 passengers are feared to have been abducted by gunmen along the Calabar waterways.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that a naval officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the incident happened on Friday.
The officer said the gunmen ambushed the ferry conveying the passengers during the attack.
According to the source, the passenger boat departed Calabar in Cross River and was heading to Oron in Akwa Ibom when the incident occurred.
However, the source could not confirm the exact number of passengers abducted.
It was gathered that many of the victims are believed to be students travelling to sit for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examination.
Meanwhile, the Police Command in Cross River neither confirmed nor denied the incident.
The command’s spokesperson, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, said the Akwa Ibom Police Command would be in a better position to provide details.
The News Agency of Nigeria further reports that the Calabar waterways have increasingly become a hotspot for abductions, with a similar incident recently recorded involving passengers travelling to Oron.